Responding to BJP state unit chief VD Sharma's claims of adequate fertiliser supplies in the state, Congress state president Jitu Patwari questioned the ruling-party leader over the long queues of farmers outside cooperatives.

Patwari alleged that ruling-party members were involved in black-marketing of fertilisers. He claimed that the going rate for fertilisers was between Rs 1,200 and Rs 2,000."Videos of BJP Mandal Presidents and Block Presidents have surfaced. Whether in Mhow, Sendhwa, or other parts of the state, the situation regarding fertiliser is dire," said a statement issued by the state Congress office in Bhopal.

In Budhni, farmers themselves are reporting a shortage. The BJP won by a margin of 108,000 votes in the previous election, but if fertiliser distribution had been done properly, and farmers had received the right quantity and price of fertiliser on time, the BJP would have won by 109,000 votes this time. However, the reality is the opposite, as farmers in Budhni are suffering due to the fertiliser shortage, said Patwari in reference to the upcoming bypolls in the area.

Patwari said that the people of Budhni are turning against the BJP, which proves that something has gone wrong. The impact of the fertiliser crisis on the farmers' rights and their welfare has left a deep impression in Budhni.

Questioning his counterpart in the ruling party, VD Sharma, Patwari sought answers on the total estimated consumption of DAP for rabi and kharif crops in the state."The state government had also estimated the requirement for urea.

How much demand was made to the central government, and how much was received? If the supply is only 20-30% of the demand, why would there not be a shortage of fertiliser?" he persisted.The Congress leader claimed that the BJP and Sharma were trying to deceive the public. He advised the ruling party to remain grounded and refrain from neglecting agrarian woes.